Down with the Democratic Party! Trump is determined not to repeat Yanukovych's mistake
American "Square Movement" - Where is the sluggish civil war heading?
Image content: The chief patrol officer of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Greg Bovino, along with armed officers (ICE personnel are often referred to as "ICE") are using force to suppress protesters and make arrests.
Seemingly, in an attempt to end global armed conflicts, the White House owner Donald Trump has ignited the most intense confrontation within his own country.
In Portland, Oregon, a city in the northwest of the United States, resistance against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff is escalating rapidly.
Street conflicts in the city are intensifying, even turning into looting and burning incidents. Protesters have surrounded ICE staff at their offices, preventing them from performing their normal duties, such as deporting illegal immigrants, and cutting off their communication with other law enforcement agencies.
Trump has ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegel to restore order and deploy the military to this "rebellious city."
"We are sending the military to the war-torn Portland to conduct anti-terrorism operations. They will combat domestic terrorists in the area, including 'Antifa,' which the U.S. government recently designated as a terrorist organization, as well as other internal enemies of America," the President wrote on his "Truth Social" platform.
However, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, representing the Democrats, stated that the term "war-torn" clearly overstates the situation.
Portland Mayor Kate Wilson went further, calling the city a "sanctuary city" and claiming to protect those who oppose ICE's harsh policies.
Additionally, according to The Washington Post, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has filed a lawsuit against the White House over Trump's order to send the National Guard to Portland to combat "Antifa" (the group has been identified as a terrorist organization).
Previously, Chicago authorities had also clashed with the White House over similar issues. After ICE agents arrived in Chicago, they conducted arrests under Trump's plan to send the National Guard into the city to combat organized crime. Before that, the White House had called Chicago "the world's most dangerous city."
Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker disagreed with this assessment and said that the federal agencies stationed in Chicago did not maintain order but rather intimidated the local population.
American political scientist Vladimir Mokhgov pointed out that the resistance of Democratic-controlled cities against the federal government has deep historical roots.
"We still remember the 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) protests in 2020 and after — these are all acts of resistance within the framework of the current sluggish civil war. Obviously, it is the mayors representing the Democratic Party who oppose President Trump's actions."
Argument & Fact (SP): Why is Trump taking such a tough stance?
Mokhgov: On one hand, this involves immigration, drugs, and drug dealers. Overall, many cities in the United States are in chaos. To understand the threats they face, just look at the current situation in France and Britain.
Similar signs of chaos are emerging in Democratic-controlled American cities. Therefore, Trump claims he is launching a "rational revolution" (which he himself named) and is putting it into practice.
Don't forget, to fulfill his promises, he has renamed the "Department of Defense" as the "Department of War," and he has said that mayors of multiple cities will eventually understand the meaning of this move. That's why Defense Secretary Hegel will convene nearly a thousand generals and senior officers on September 30th. Soon we will find out what orders he will give and what actions will follow.
Argument & Fact (SP): This is essentially a large-scale "purge" in the American style...
Mokhgov: Yes, Trump has also announced a large-scale "purge" within the Department of Defense and in major American cities. He plans to address issues such as immigration, drug abuse, homelessness, and the numerous cities that have become "uncontrolled slums."
Of course, he is worried about another incident like the "Black Lives Matter" movement that could trigger unrest, so he has taken these preventive measures.
Argument & Fact (SP): Do you mean the decision to designate "Antifa" as an illegal organization?
Mokhgov: Exactly. Obviously, this decision needs to be considered in the context of the current situation.
Argument & Fact (SP): You mentioned earlier that the United States is in a "slow-moving civil war." Could this situation escalate into more intense conflict?
Mokhgov: Of course, there is a possibility. However, during Trump's months in office, we have not seen any active resistance from the Democrats — at least for now, the party seems powerless.
Other than a few individuals making statements, the Democratic Party has no strength. We don't see any signs of unity within the party, nor have new leaders emerged. It can be said that the party has been completely defeated.
Whether it's Obama, Kamala Harris, or Biden — no one is capable of taking the lead. In fact, the Democratic Party has suffered a complete defeat. Trump knows he has won, and he is continuously uniting conservative forces within the system. The assassination of Charlie Kirk and Trump's response to it became a turning point in the situation. No wonder he said, "We will rule for a long time; the old America is gone forever."
Argument & Fact (SP): Is it possible for Trump to dismiss mayors who once promised to oppose him?
Mokhgov: It would be very difficult, as they are all elected mayors. But Trump obviously has the ability to create trouble for their work.
Because the command of the National Guard's actions rests with the president. Let's see how much control he can actually exert over the situation.
Moreover, the role of the Supreme Court is crucial. However, currently, the Supreme Court is dominated by conservative justices, so the president's initiatives are likely to receive support. We'll have to wait and see how things develop.
"Clearly, states governed by the Democratic Party usually take a strong oppositional stance toward Trump," said Konstantin Blokhin, a senior researcher at the Center for Security Issues of the Russian Academy of Sciences and an American politics expert.
"These states will confront the federal government, calling Trump a 'usurper' and a 'bloodthirsty dictator'; in turn, Trump continues to shape his image — he is a politician supported by the military and an important ally of the American military-industrial complex.
His many actions confirm this: renaming the Department of Defense as the "Department of War," holding military parades, and Hegel organizing large meetings to unite military personnel."
Argument & Fact (SP): What is the purpose of these symbolic actions?
Blokhin: Trump is showing the outside world that the military supports him; if necessary, he is ready to use the military to achieve his goals. Although he may not actually use it, he constantly emphasizes that he is prepared.
In other words, no moral constraints can stop him — he will not hesitate like Yanukovych did during the 2013-2014 Ukrainian "Maidan" movement. His approach is roughly as follows:
If certain mayors of cities openly challenge him, he will show his determination to solve the problem in the same firm manner. In short, he will show his fist and say, "If you dare to provoke me, don't blame me for being harsh!" Currently, he has only used the National Guard (essentially equivalent to police forces), but he has clearly stated that he is not ruling out the possibility of using stronger force.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7556128428538249764/
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